Managing a High-Demand Resource

Aspect combines hydrologic science and engineering with strategic consultation and regulatory insight to identify practical solutions. When helping clients solve water resource problems, we consider the hydrologic conditions and regulatory constraints of the site and the broader watershed encompassing it, as well as competing demands on the resource – all of which influence project approach and outcome. Our diverse expertise and collective experience allow us to navigate broad-ranging permitting and regulatory programs; while our technical credibility is a distinct asset in gaining regulatory approvals and stakeholder buy-in.

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Water Rights

• Certified Water Rights Examiner

• Source Approval

• Water Banking/Mitigation Support

• Water Right Acquisition and Transfer

• Water Right Due Diligence

Water Supply

• Aquifer Storage and Recovery

• Instream Flow Mitigation

• Production Well Design, Installation, and Rehabilitation

• Water Storage

• Wellhead Protection

Water Planning

• Critical Areas

• Grading and Drainage

• Groundwater and Hydrologic Modeling

• Impact Assessment and Mitigation

• Mine Reclamation

• SEPA & EIS

• Watershed Assessment and Planning

WATER RESOURCES PROJECTS

Yakama Nation Irrigation Demonstration Project

Aspect completed a plan and facilitated a tribal workgroup to develop options and select a preferred option to irrigate lands for crop production on the south slope of Ahtanum Ridge for the Yakama Nation. The plan identifies the irrigable acreage within the project area, provides design and construction costs for new or upgraded existing surface delivery methods, determines suitable crops for the area and the associated water requirements, and applies sound principles of economics to analyze project feasibility.

Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians Water Resources Support

Aspect has provided ongoing support to the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians since our inception in 2001, and the history of Aspect personnel at Soboba extends back to 1980. Our work has included developing three wells exceeding a 1000 ft deep for domestic and irrigation purposes, assessing the feasibility of expanding irrigated acreage on the Reservation, providing technical input on impacts of the water district’s tunnel on the Reservation Springs, and evaluating impacts of off-reservation pumping. Recently, Aspect has supported the Tribe’s development of a comprehensive water system plan to address the diverse demands of their water system which includes community domestic, agricultural irrigation, golf course irrigation, and major development of a new casino. Key projects identified as part of the water system plan include construction of a new 2.0-million-gallon water tank and high capacity well (2,000 gpm). Aspect lead the development of plans, specifications, drilling oversight, well design and testing of the new Tribal water system supply well.

Selah-Moxee Irrigation District Water Management Planning

For over a century, the Selah-Moxee Irrigation District (SMID) has irrigated over 7,000 acres of the some of the most productive agricultural land in the Yakima Basin. However, areas surrounding their district have been challenged by declining groundwater for decades. To help ensure greater water security in the region, SMID assessed their water rights portfolio to see how they could leverage their currently supply to offset these declines.

THE PROBLEM

HOW WE HELPED

Aspect set the stage for broad water management strategy improvements by auditing their water rights portfolio, including conducting GIS surveys to determine potential consumptive and non-consumptive water use savings from land use changes and canal lining. This groundwork led to helping SMID secure $150,000 in grant money to find supply side solutions around declining groundwater in their area.

SMID MILESTONES

The district has clear first steps to a more secure water supply for Yakima Basin groundwater user. Further groundwater management studies, led by Aspect, include a groundwater infiltration study aimed at retiming Yakima River flows to benefit the river during low flow months and water marketing studies to evaluate expansion of SMID service areas to move declining groundwater users onto more reliable surface supplies.